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        <h1>
            kSynth.b: how the hell do I use it?<a href="#top">&nbsp;</a></h1>
            <p><a href="default.htm">Click here to go back to the synthesizer</a></p>
        <h2>
            Contents</h2>
        <ol>
            <li><a href="#whatis">What is kSynth.b?</a></li>
            <li><a href="#local">Can I use kSynth.b locally without an internet connection?</a></li>
            <li><a href="#notes">How do I add and change notes?</a></li>
            <li><a href="#grids">Why are there two note grids? How do I control the drums?</a></li>
            <li><a href="#sound">How do I control the sound? What is 'Funkage'?</a></li>
            <li><a href="#vst">Can I use kSynth.b as a VST plugin?</a></li>
            <li><a href="#import">Can I import my own wave samples?</a></li>
            <li><a href="#save">Can I save or download audio from kSynth.b?</a></li>
            <li><a href="#record">Can I record audio from kSynth.b?</a></li>
            <li><a href="#how">How does kSynth.b work?</a></li>
        </ol>
        <h2>
            <a name="whatis"></a>What is kSynth.b?</h2>
        <p>
            kSynth.b is an audio synthesizer and sequencer built with <a href="http://www.silverlight.net">
                Silverlight</a> and the C# .NET programming language. It is also a "peer" of
            <a href="http://www.kindohm.com/ksynth">kSynth</a>, another audio synthesizer/sequencer.
            kSynth.b isn't really a new version of the original kSynth - just something different.
            In any case, it's a fun gadget to waste time with.</p>
        <h2>
            <a name="local"></a>Can I use kSynth.b locally without an internet connection?</h2>
        <p>
            Yes you can! Right-click anywhere in the application and choose to install the app
            onto your computer. To uninstall later, visit the web page again, right-click, then
            choose to uninstall.</p>
        <p>
            <img src="local.png" alt="install" /></p>
        <h2>
            <a name="notes"></a>How do I add and change notes?</h2>
        <p>
            You can add a note by simply placing your mouse cursor over a square in the note
            grid and clicking the left mouse button:</p>
        <p>
            <img src="AddNote.png" alt="add note" /></p>
        <p>
            To change the note length, start by hovering your mouse over the right edge of the
            note. You'll see that the cursor changes to a right-left sizing arrow. Left click,
            then drag your mouse to the right until it is the desired length:</p>
        <p>
            <img src="ChangeLength.png" alt="change length" /></p>
        <p>
            A note's length defines when its sound starts and when its sound ends with respect
            to the sequencer timing.</p>
        <p>
            You can delete a note by simply clicking it.</p>
        <p>
            There is no restriction on being able to place two or more notes at the same location
            on the timeline:</p>
        <p>
            <img src="multi.png" alt="multi notes" /></p>
        <p>
            The range of notes available on the synthesizer's musical scale is quite large.
            Don't forget that a vertical scroll bar is available for you to scroll to the extreme
            high and low notes:</p>
        <p>
            <img src="scroll.png" alt="scrolling" /></p>
        <h2>
            <a name="grids"></a>Why are there two note grids? How do I control the drums?</h2>
        <p>
            The top grid is for the drums, the bottom grid is for the synthesizer. The drum
            sounds come from real wave file samples and there are five samples available: kick
            (bass drum), snare, hat (hi hat or ride cymbal), tic (short sound #1) and toc (short
            sound #2):</p>
        <p>
            <img src="drumslots.png" alt="drum slots" /></p>
        <p>
            You can add drum notes the same way you add synthesizer notes (through placing and
            re-sizing). Keep in mind that if a drum note's length is shorter than the wave file
            sample length that the drum sound will be cut off before it is done playing. Expand
            the drum note length to hear more of the full drum sample sound.
        </p>
        <p>
            You can change the drum sound by selecting a different drum sample library:</p>
        <p>
            <img src="drumlib.png" alt="drum lib" /></p>
        <p>
            <em>Akuma</em> is a sliced beat created by <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=dave+akuma">
                Dave Akuma</a>. <em>Amen</em> is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen_break">
                    Amen Break</a>. <em>Kindohm</em> and <em>Science</em> are custom drum breaks
            created by yours truly. They've been used on the tracks <em>Scientific Method</em>
            and <em>Less Human | More Mine</em> which are available on my <a href="http://www.kindohm.com/MusicLibrary.aspx">
                Music Library page</a>.</p>
        <p>
            You can control the volume (e.g. "level") of the drums and synthesizer independently
            of each other. Use the two Level sliders to the right of each grid to change their
            volumes:
        </p>
        <p>
            <img src="levels.png" alt="levels" /></p>
        <h2>
            <a name="sound"></a>How do I control the synth sound? What is 'Funkage'?</h2>
        <p>
            There are a variety of parameters available to control the synthesizer sound. The
            underlying sound waves used to synthesize the audio are numerous enough that I decided
            it would be too complicated to try and control every individual parameter of each
            sound wave. Instead, kSynth.b exposes some simpler parameters that translate to
            more complex settings underneath:</p>
        <p>
            <img src="params.png" alt="params" /></p>
        <ul>
            <li><strong>Funkage</strong> - this parameter is used to detune the underlying sound
                waves within each note. A higher value will cause more pitch separation within a
                single note.</li>
            <li><strong>Spacicity</strong> - this parameter spreads the signal out in stereo. Setting
                the value to zero will result in a mono signal.</li>
            <li><strong>Sauce</strong> - this affects the phase shift of the underlying sound waves
                within each note. When combined with Spacicity it produces some softer, more ethereal
                sounds.</li>
            <li><strong>Tunage</strong> - this parameter significantly alters the sound and is especially
                effective with longer notes. It should only be used by experienced users. </li>
            <li><strong>Attack</strong> - attack controls how much each note "fades in". A value
                of zero causes an abrupt note entrance and can possibly result in a "clip" sound.</li>
            <li><strong>Release</strong> - this parameter controls how fast a note "fades out".
                Release takes effect <em>after</em> a note's duration has ended, thus it extends
                the length of the note slightly beyond its length defined on the note grid.</li>
            <li><strong>Delay</strong> - repeats the sounds played through the synthesizer at a
                (very near) future point in time.</li>
            <li><strong>Grain</strong> - allows you to pick how the underlying sound waves are constructed.
                There are 256 combinations of sine, saw, square, and triangle waves. </li>
        </ul>
        <p>
            In addition to the above parameters that control the synthesized sound, there are
            two parameters that control the sequencer:</p>
        <p>
            <img src="seqsettings.png" alt="sequencer settings" /></p>
        <ul>
            <li><strong>Steps</strong> - change the Steps value to control how many individual 16th-note
                "steps" are available in the sequencer timeline. The default is 64. Set it to 14
                or 28 to achieve the Tom Sawyer synth line.</li>
            <li><strong>Tempo</strong> - adjust to your current caffeine consumption level.</li>
        </ul>
        <h2>
            <a name="vst"></a>Can I use kSynth.b as a VST plugin?</h2>
        <p>
            Absolutely not. The app runs using a Silverlight browser plugin and can't interface
            with desktop audio software that uses VST plugins. Most plugins are written for
            desktop software using unmanaged code in a language like c++.</p>
        <h2>
            <a name="import"></a>Can I import my own wave samples?</h2>
        <p>
            Not at this time.</p>
        <h2>
            <a name="save"></a>Can I save or download audio from kSynth.b?</h2>
        <p>
            Not at this time.
        </p>
        <h2>
            <a name="record"></a>Can I record audio from kSynth.b?</h2>
        <p>
            There is no way to output audio to a file or directly to another piece of software.
        </p>
        <p>
            However, there is no reason why you couldn't use kSynth.b as an instrument and use
            the audio outputs on your laptop or desktop computer.
        </p>
        <h2>
            <a name="how"></a>How does kSynth.b work?</h2>
        <p>
            It's technical.</p>
        <p>
            If you're knowledgeable about HTTP and .xap files, then you shouldn't have too much
            trouble getting the details.
        </p>
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